During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump famously criticized President Barack Obama for playing golf frequently while in office. Trump promised that if he were elected president, he would be too busy working for the American people to spend time on the golf course.
In a 2016 rally, Trump said, “I’m going to be working for you. I’m not going to have time to go play golf.” He used this line often to contrast himself with Obama, implying that his presidency would be more focused, hardworking, and less self-indulgent.
However, after taking office, Trump was frequently seen golfing at his own properties, including Trump National Golf Club in Virginia and Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Reports throughout his presidency indicated that he played golf regularly, leading critics to accuse him of hypocrisy and using taxpayer money to promote his private businesses.
This contrast between campaign promises and presidential behavior became a common theme of political commentary during his time in office.